Gyroscope-spinning mechanism.



F. M. LEAVITT. GYROSCOPE SPINNING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14. I9I2.

Patented May 30,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

Fig. 1

WITNESSES:

F. M. LEAVITT. GYROSCOPE SPINNING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAR-14. I912.-

Patented May 30, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- INVENTOR l u l I I I I n WITNESS f its position,

property "tion 'may,

iarly adapted to wheel itself, the

anism, whereby volving shaft and slipping-the PATENT ornicn.

LEAVITT, OF SMITH'IOWN,

FRANK M. OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,

GYRO SCOPE-SFINNING MECHANISM.

NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO E. W. BLISS COMFANY,

A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

Suffolk and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gyroscope- Spinning Mechamsm, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for and unlocking a gyroscope such for controlling the steering of au- Such gyroscope comprises a fly-wheel mounted in gimbal rings so as to, be capable of universal motion, with means for locking it so as to confine the flyspinning as is used tomobile torpedoes.

"wheel to a fixed axis during spinning, means up to the required high velocity, and means forthen unlocking the gyroscope to set it free, in order that as its support (i. e. the torpedo hull) changes the fly-wheel by virtue of its of retaining fixity of axial direcbytaking advantageof the differential motion between itself and its support, -be utilized to control 'the steering mechthe torpedo whenever it diverts from its prescribed course may be steered back into such course. Although the steering of an automobile torpedo is the principal practical use of such gyroscopic apparatus, yet the mechanism provided by the present invention is not necessarily limited to this utilization, although peculthe requirements thereof. Gyroscopic fly-wheels have been spun up by a spring clock-work mechanism; or by blowing compressed air against the flyvlatter being formed with peripheral notches to constitute it a sort of turbine; or by gearing the fly-wheel spindle to the propeller shaft or other rapidly regearing after a sufficient interval to 1nsure that the flywheel shall have been spun to the required speed. The present invention utilizes compressed air (or equivalent fluid under pressure) for the purpose, but instead of ing this act directly upon special turbine is provided which is geared to the fly-wheel and after a predetermined interval sufficient to insure the proper spinning, the gearing is slipped or unmeshe and the air supply simultaneously shut oif. At the same instant the gyroscope is unlocked. p

for then spinning it specification of Letters Patent.

M. LEAvrr'r,

hav- 5 the fly-wheel, a

Patented May 30, 1916.

Application filed March 14, 1912. Serial No. 683,899.

I The accompanying drawings show the preferred embodiment'of my invention as applied to the spinning up of a gyroscope suited for use in an automobile torpedo.

Flgure 1 1s a vertical longitudinal section of the gyroscope mechanism, vation, showing the gyroscope locked and readyfor thespmning operation; Fig. 2 is a similar v1ew showing the parts after the unlockmg operation; Fig. 3 is a view looklng toward the left end of the preceding figures, showing the turbine wheel in elevation, its nozzle in section, and the connection with the an control valve; Fig. 4c is a section looking in the same direction as Flg. 3 and cut in the plane of the line 4-4 m Flg. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan partly in horizontal section. Y L

Referring tothe drawings, A designates the fly-wheel of the gyroscope, a being its partly in elespindle and b cits gimbal rings, the outer ring being hung as usualin a support d which is fixedly mounted in the hull of the torpedo. The spindle a carries a gear wheel 6 which may mesh with .a gear f which is carried upon one end of a shaft g on the opposite end of which is carried the turbine B. The shaft 9 has bearings in a slide 0, preferably constructed as a tubular sleeve, which may slide endwise in frames h and '5. The sleeve C In one extreme position, shown in Fig. 1, brings the gear f into mesh with the gear 6, and at the same time brings the turbine wheel B into the plane of a turbine nozzle D. In the other extreme positionv shown in Fig. 2, the gear '7 is out of mesh with the gear 6 and the turbine B isicarried out of the plane of the nozzle D.

A locking pin E is mounted in the line of the inner gimbal ring I) and locks the gimbals fast in the position required for splnningup the fly wheel. At the end of the spinning operation the locking pin is withdrawn to the position shown in Fig.- 2; for this purpose it is made to slide in suit able hearings in the frames h and 2', and is connected to the slide C as by means of a fork I: projecting down from the slide and engaging between opposite shoulders on the locking pin.

The slide 0 is acted upon by a spring to give it a strong tendency to move to the pos'tion shown in Fig. 2. This spring might be variously applied, the arrangement shown being that a forked lever F engages a projection on the slide and has an elbow arm which receives the pull of a spring S.

In the locked position shown in Fig. 1,

r the slide C is locked in place by any suitable slide 0, Wh

' 8- (Fig.4) may be latching means, preferably a sliding latch G (Fig. 4) which enters a locking notch g in the side of the slide. A spring I presses the latchinto place. the prescribed period of time required for spinning up the fly wheel, the latch G is forced back to free the slide C, which thereupon is thrown over by the. stress of the spring S to the position shown in Fig. 2. The duration of the spin may be determined by any suitable sort of timing mechanism. One example of this is shown in Fig. 4. The shaft 9 carries a wormm (Fig. 1) which drives a train of gears comprising a worm wheel 12. and pinions '0, o, p, the latter meshing with a. rank 9 on a-slide H. This slide is pressed by a spring H against a stop shoulder 72. starting point of its travel. When the mechanism is started, the movement of the train causes a slow travel of the slide H in the direction of the arrow, which finally brings this slide into contact with a shoulder a" on the latch G, whereupon it carries the latch G with it until this latch is with drawn from the notch g and unlocks the ereupon this slide moves over quickly to the The train is shown as mounted in a frame 1' which is supported on the slide C, so that this train moves with the slide. The movement of the slide 0 not only displaces the turbine B but also shuts ofi air (as will be described) and the turbine soon comes to rest so that its screw m ceases to further drive the train. a The duration of the spin is determined by the speed of g, the proportions of the gearing; and the distance separating the slide H from the shoulder or abutment which it strikes. on thelatch G. -The width of this space may be made variable at will in case it is desired to be able to control the duration of' the spin. For this purpose an adjusting screw provided for varying the starting point from which the slide H travels, and thus varying the duration of its travel:

The compressed air for spinning the turbine 1s admitted from any source of air pressure through a pipe t controlled by a starting valve 1. The air pipe then leads to a shut-ofi' valve J from which a duct t leads to the nozzle D. The valve J has a stem J which projects down through it and is acted upon by an arm F projecting from the spindle of the lever F. 7 I

. Th ,spinning mechanism is started in operation by the opening-0f the starting valve At the termlnation of which determines the position shown H1 Fig. 2..

the turbineshaft considerable limits, as

which admits comvalve ll herewith The air blowing through the nozzle starts the turbine B which revolves with accelerating speed, and its motion is communicated through the gears f e to the fiy-wheel. This motion also drives the timing mechanism, and at the end of the prescribed movement the latch G is withdrawn and the slide 0 flies over as described. The accompanying movement of the leverF carries its arm F which no longer holds up'the valve stem J, and the valve J thereupon instantly closes, shutting off the air from preventing waste of air. The gyroscope fiy-wheel having been spun up to the requisite speed before this unlockmg movement,

is unlocked by the retraction of the locking p111 E. In a torpedo, all this occurs while the torpedo is moving through the launching tube and before-it so far'emerges therefrom as to lose its fixe direction as deter mined by the aiming o the tube.

The mechanism thus described is simple and compact, is very certain in its'opera-' tion, and requiresonly to be driven by a suitable air pressure (which in atorpedo is assured) to cause the spinning of the fly wheel to the requisite high velocity, and to the turbine and cause the unlocking movement to be eflected brief time limited by the within the very torpedo within its launchmovement of the ing tube. To set. the is only necessary to move the parts to the position shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the latch G is pressed by its spring Z into engagement with thelocking notch thereby securely locking the slide C. This movement protrudes the locking pin E to lock the gimbal ring. Of course the gimbals must first have been restored to-normal position so' as to bring the socket j into line with theglocking pin.

The present invention is not confined to the constructio or arrangement of mechanism shown, b t this may be varied within will be apparent to any skilled mechanician, and as may be required according to any special purpose for which the mechanism is to be adapted.

The means for spinning a gyroscope flywheel introduced y the present invention has the advantage that it spins the fly-wheel apparatus before launching, it

almost instantaneously and while the torpedo is still movin within the launching tube,

and hence before it can possibly dethe starting of the engine; whereas it'is de-' lock for thegi vi ate from its original direction or aim;

and of insuring that the fly-wheel shall con-' tinue spinning for the longest possible time, this being a condition of the utmost 'importance to meet the requirements of the present long range torpedoes. As compared with the -'old spring or clock-work spinning means, it has the advantage of a far more forceful spin of the wheel, and it avoids any risk of failure due to the breaking of a spring or the derangement of the-complicated clock-work mechanism. The early attempts to utilize an air jet for spinning the fiy-wheel by directing the jet against teeth formed on the surface of the wheel, had the" disadvantage that these teeth acted as fans to churn the surrounding air into eddy currents, thereby retarding the wheel and causing it to run down so quickly as to be useless for the present long range torpedoes. The spinning ofthe fly-wheel by gearing itto the turbine shaft, has the disadvantage that the gyroscope cannot be spun until s'irable that the engine be not started until after the torpedo has left the launching tube, until after the spinning of The tion obviates these several disadvantages. I

.1. The combination with a gyroscope of 'a shaft geared to the flywheelthereof, a turbine on said shaft, a

slide carrying said shaft, a timing device, and means controlled thereby for displacing said slide at the end of-the spinning operation.

2. The combination with a gyroscope of a to the flywheel thereof, a turbine on said shaft, a slide carrying said shaft, and means for displacing said slide and withdrawing said lockat the termination of the spinnlng.

' 3. The combination with a gyroscope of a lock for the bal thereof, a turbine, a shaft and gears connecting said turbine to the fly-wheel, a slide connected to said lock and to one of said gears, and means for disbal thereof, a shaft geared placing said slide at the end of the spinnin operation to unmesh said gears and unloc:

the gyroscope.

4. The combination with a gyroscope ,of a 4 lock for the gimbal thereof,the flywheel thereof having a gear,

a turbine, a sha carrymg said turbine and having a gear engaging said gear on the flywheel, a sliding sleeve inclosing said shaft, a worm on said shaft, a timing device driven by said worm, and means released by said tuning devlce lock for the gimbal thereof, a shaft geared to the flywheel thereof, a turbine on said shaft, a slide engaging said shaft, a latch for holding said slide in position, a spring tending to displace saidslide, and means for withdrawing said latch at the end of the spinning operation.

6. The combination with a gyroscope of a locking pin for the gimbal thereof movable in line with the axis of the fly-wheel, a shaft geared to the fly-wheel, a turbine on said shaft, a movable part adapted-to displace said shaft endwise, a latch for holding said parts in the locked position, a spring for retracting them when unlocke for withdrawing said latch at the end of the spinning operation.

7. The combination with a gyroscope of a lock for the gimbal thereof, a shaft geared to the fly-wheel thereof, a turbine on said shaft, a train driven from said shaft, a latch for holding said shaft and lock-in the locked position, means operated by said train for withdrawing the latch after theprescribed spin, and'a spring for dis lacing said shaft and withdrawing said loc upon the release In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two sub- 1 and means- 

